Disneyland reopened the online sales window for Magic Key annual passes on Tuesday, Jan. 17, according to the official Disneyland Magic Key Instagram page.

Sales will be limited and could end at any time. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced last week that Magic Key sales at Disneyland would resume “from time to time.”

Don’t expect the online sales window to remain open for long. Magic Key annual pass sales were reopened for about a day in November before being paused again.

The Magic Key virtual queue had an approximate wait time of more than an hour at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

New Magic Key pass sales will pause each night at 10 p.m. and resume each morning at 9 a.m. Pacific time until the sale ends. Shoppers in the virtual queue will hold their place in the virtual line overnight as long as they keep their browser window open.

The $1,599 Inspire Key, $1,099 Believe Key and $449 Imagine Key were still available for purchase, according to an update posted to the Disneyland Magic Key website. The $699 Enchant Key was available for renewal only.

Let’s start our imaginary road trip in San Diego, where SeaWorld continues its transformation into San Diego’s roller coaster capital with the opening of Arctic Rescue this spring. This triple-launch coaster from Intamin will feature seats that you straddle, like on a snowmobile. The concept is that you are rescuing animals in the Arctic, and the coaster won’t rise over 30 feet from the ground as the ride emphasizes twists and turns over big drops and airtime.

San Diego’s weather won’t fool anyone into believing they’re riding in the Arctic, however, so I am more curious to see how the same type of coaster plays at SeaWorld’s sister park Busch Gardens Williamsburg. DarKoaster will feature four launches and run indoors, in the former Curse of DarKastle building at the Virginia theme park. That old dark ride offered an original story and characters, which I am looking forward to revisiting on this new coaster.

Up at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, the wooden roller coaster Wildcat is getting a Rocky Mountain Construction steel-track makeover into Wildcat’s Revenge this summer. RMC did wonders with Twisted Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain and last year’s Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa in Florida, so Hersheypark is hoping that its new RMC will be a hit, too.

Families with younger roller coaster fans will want to check out Big Bear Mountain, a multi-launch Vekoma roller coaster coming to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., this year. With a height restriction of just 39 inches, this 66-foot tall, 3,990-foot-long coaster through the park’s Wildwood Grove land will be accessible to some preschoolers.

READ MORE: Top 10 of 2023 best new theme park rides and attractions in the United States

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom also is opening a coaster this year with TRON Lightcycle/Run, a clone of the successful ride first installed at Shanghai Disneyland. Meanwhile, rival Universal Studios Florida is going with a new interactive attraction rather than a coaster. Villain-Con Minion Blast will anchor a newly designated Minion Land in the Orlando park.

Heading back toward the west, SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas is building what it is calling a “flume coaster” with Catapult Falls. The unique eight-passenger water coaster will feature a 20 mph launch, a 55-foot vertical lift and a 53-degree splashdown drop when it opens later this year.

Returning to Southern California, Knott’s Berry Farm will open its refurbished Fiesta Village in 2023, featuring MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress. This rebuild of the former Montezooma’s Revenge looping coaster will feature a randomized launch sequence, and its queue will get story upgrades about doomed treasure hunters searching for gold.

It’s way too early to tell which of these will be the best new attraction of the year. But I am certain that theme park fans will have a lot of fun “researching” that decision this year.

Disney100 food and beverage items will be available starting Monday, Jan. 9 before the anniversary party officially kicks off with the launch of a new ride, fireworks show and nighttime spectacular on Jan. 27.

A few Disney100 food items have already hit online Disneyland menus like Lemon Tea Cakes at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe and Lemon Chiffon Pie at Flo’s V8 Cafe. The Disney100 lemon treats will be available starting Monday along with Disney100 popcorn buckets and drink tumblers.

Disney100 travel tumblers will be available for $13.49 at several eateries – including French Market, Golden Horseshoe, Royal Street Veranda and Troubadour Tavern at Disneyland and Corn Dog Castle, Lucky Fortune Cookery and Paradise Garden Grill at Disney California Adventure.

The vast majority of the new food and drinks debuting Monday at Disneyland and DCA are part of a seasonal rotation replacing departing Christmas items following the end of the holiday season on Sunday, Jan. 8. Virtually all of the new foods and drinks joining Disneyland and DCA menus on Monday are expected to still be available when the Disney100 celebration kicks off in late January.

A full Disney100 menu will be coming to the Anaheim theme parks closer to the launch of the yearlong celebration.

Here is the full list of the new food and drinks debuting at Disneyland on Monday.

Alien Pizza Planet

Lemon Tea Cake — Lemon Curd, Lemon Zest Glaze and a fresh Slice of Lemon — $6.99

Chicken Enchilada Pasta — Seasoned Grilled Chicken, Corn and Onion Relish served on Pasta tossed in Creamy Tomatillo Sauce and garnished with Crema, Cilantro and Corn — $12.49

Chorizo con Papa Pizza — Pizza Sauce, Mozzarella & Queso Fresco, Sliced Potatoes, Chorizo and Marinated Red Onions garnished with Cilantro and Chives — $8.99

Cafe Femenino Organic Coffee — $3.79

Bengal Barbecue

Pineapple Shrimp Skewer — Island-inspired Grilled Shrimp, spicy Sausage and sweet Pineapple — $8.49

Galactic Grill

Chocolate Red Velvet Parfait — Layers of Chocolate Pudding, Red Velvet Sponge, Chocolate Mousse and Crushed Chocolate Creme-filled Cookies — $6.99

Blackberry-Cucumber Limeade — Blackberry-infused Limeade garnished with a Blackberry Coulis and Cucumbers — $5.79

Cafe Femenino Organic Coffee — $3.79

Hungry Bear

Lemon Tea Cake — Lemon Curd, Lemon Zest Glaze and a fresh Slice of Lemon — $6.99

Loaded Chocolate Chip Funnel Cake — Cookie Crumbles, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, Whipped Topping and Chocolate Sauce — $9.99

Berry Lemonade served over ice with Berry Compote — $5.99

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

Lemon Tea Cake — Lemon Curd with Lemon Zest Glaze — $6.99

Chocolate-Strawberry Macaron — Chocolate Macaron with Dark Chocolate Mousse and Strawberry Compote Filling — $6.99

Chocolate-Caramel Shortbread Tart — Caramel and Chocolate Ganache in a Shortbread Tart with Red-colored White Chocolate Mousse, Sea Salt and Chocolate Pearls — $6.49

Chocolate Mousse Brownie — Chocolate Chip Brownie, Dark Chocolate Ganache, White Chocolate Mousse, crunchy Chocolate Pearls and White Chocolate Decoration — $5.99

Mickey Mouse-shaped Blueberry Scone — $5.49

Strawberry-stuffed Croissant — Strawberries, Pastry Cream, Strawberry Coulis and Powdered Sugar — $4.99

Chocolate Mousse Brownie — Chocolate Chip Brownie, Dark Chocolate Ganache, White Chocolate Mousse, crunchy Chocolate Pearls and White Chocolate Decoration — $5.99

Sweetened Iced Tea with Vanilla Whipped Cream — $5.29

Red Rose Taverne

Gourmet Breakfast Sandwich — Herb blend and Creme Fraiche Egg, Maple Butter Spread, Muenster and Crispy Bacon on a Toasted English Muffin, served with Taverne Potato Bites — $10.99

Grey Stuff Gateau — Cookies and Cream Mousse and Red Velvet Cake with a Raspberry Center — $5.99

Strawberry Tea with Silver Sparkle Edible Dust — $5.79

Taverne Cold Brew — Caramel, Vanilla and Cinnamon Cold Brew with Cream — $6.29

Refreshment Corner

BBQ Picnic Dog – Pulled Pork-topped Foot-long Hot Dog, Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce and Coleslaw, with a Mandarin Orange or small Bag of Chips — $13.49

Here are the new food and drinks debuting Monday at Disney California Adventure.

Award Wieners

Cubano Dog –— Mojo Pork, Ham Cubano-style Sandwich with Pepperjack, Pickle and Mojo Mustard on a Toasted Telera Bread with choice of Mandarin Oranges or Filmstrip Fries — $15.49

Blueberry-Maple Bacon Funnel Cake Fries — Sugar and Bacon-coated Funnel Fries drizzled with Maple Syrup and topped with Whipped Topping, Bacon and Blueberry Compote – $9.49

Cappuccino Cart

Lemon Tea Cake – Lemon Curd with Lemon Zest Glaze — $6.99

Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream

Magic Key Mickey Ear Hat Bowl – Chocolate Brownie Sundae with Fudge Brownie, Rocky Road Ice Cream, Hot Fudge and a Hard Chocolate Shell, served in a Chocolate-dipped Waffle Cup and topped with White Chocolate and Chocolate Puffs — $18.19

Mangonada – Two Scoops of Mango Sorbet, layered with Chamoy, Fresh Mango Chunks and a Chile-Lime Seasoning Rim — $7.99

Cozy Cone Motel

Sweet & Sour Churro – Churro tossed in Salt & Lime-flavored Sugar with Sweet Lime Glaze — $6.29

Esquite Corn Fritters – Tossed in Chile-Lime Seasoning and topped with Cilantro-Lime Dressing, Cotija Cheese and Pico de Gallo — $7.49

Flo’s V8 Cafe

Lemon Chiffon Pie – With Graham Cracker Crust and Vanilla Chantilly Cream — $7.99

Spicy Guacamole Bacon Cheeseburger – Angus Beef Patty, Spicy Guacamole, Crispy Bacon, Cheddar, Chipotle Mayo and Lettuce, with Mandarin Oranges or Steak Fries — $15.49

Pacific Wharf Cafe

Chipotle Chicken Sandwich – Chipotle Marinated Chicken, Havarti, Avocado Spread and Crispy Bacon served on a Sun-dried Tomato-Asiago Focaccia — $12.69

Schmoozies

Watermelon Lemonade — $5.99

Banana Shake with Whipped Topping — $9.49

Smokejumpers Grill

Magic Key Mickey Ear Hat Bowl — Bacon Cheeseburger Loaded Fries with Onions, Pickles, Burger Sauce and Tomatoes — $19.99

Bacon Cheeseburger Loaded Fries topped with Ground Beef, Bacon, Cheddar, Onions, Pickles, Burger Sauce and Tomatoes — $12.99

Blue Raspberry Lemonade — Blend of Blue Raspberry, Lemonade, Limeade and Blue Cotton Candy Syrup, with swimming Gummi Fish — $6.49

Sweet Lemonade Tea with Honey and a Lemon Wedge — $4.89

Strawberry Shortcake Shake — Topped with Pound Cake, Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream and a Strawberry — $11.99

Studio Catering Co.

Asian Beef Burrito — Korean Marinated Beef, Kimchi Fried Rice with Bacon, Gochujang, Cabbage Salad with Almonds and Toasted Ramen, topped with Gochujang Aioli — $11.49

Korean Fried Chicken Sliders — Topped with Gochujang Sauce, Kimchi, Coleslaw and Pickled Onions, served on Sweet Hawaiian Bread — $11.49

Korean-style Watermelon Punch — With Sprite and Oat Milk — $5.99

Disneyland’s food and beverage team will roll out nearly three dozen craft cocktails and beers on Monday, Jan. 9 ahead of the Disney100 party celebrating the 100th anniversary of Disney animation. Some of the beers and cocktails debuting Monday at DCA are part of a seasonal rotation replacing departing Christmas items following the end of the holiday season on Sunday, Jan. 8.

The Disney100 celebration officially kicks off on Jan. 27 with the launch of a new ride, fireworks show and nighttime spectacular.

Disney California Adventure has served alcohol since its debut in 2001 when Disneyland’s sister park was positioned as an adult-oriented alternative to Disney’s original Anaheim theme park. DCA hosts several popular festivals each year that put a heavy emphasis on food, beer, wine and cocktails.

A full Disney100 food and beverage menu for Disney California Adventure is expected to be announced closer to the launch of the yearlong celebration.

Here is the full list of the new alcoholic beverages debuting at DCA on Monday.

Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream

Mango Hard Float — Mango Cart Beer with Mango Sorbet and Diced Mango — $16

Lemon-Raspberry Hard Float — Lemon-Raspberry Cider, Lemon Sorbet and a Fresh Raspberry Garnish — $16

Cocina Cucamonga

Spicy Paloma — Tequila, Fresh Grapefruit, Serrano Simple Syrup, topped with Sprite served with a Tamarind Chamoy Rim — $16

Cozy Cone Motel

La Bodega Highway 72 Kolsch-style — $13.25

Hollywood Lounge

Dragon Fruit Soju Mule — Soju, Dragon Fruit Syrup, Lime Juice and Ginger Ale, garnished with Dragon Fruit — $16

Margarita Flight — Watermelon, Cucumber and Mango Margaritas with Chile-Lime Seasoning — $18

Watermelon Margarita — Tequila, Lime Juice, TripleSec, Watermelon Syrup, Sour Mix and Chili-Lime Seasoning — $17

Mango Margarita — Tequila, Lime Juice, TripleSec, Mango Syrup, Sour Mix and Chili-Lime Seasoning — $17

Cucumber Margarita — Tequila, Lime Juice, TripleSec, Cucumber Syrup, Sour Mix and Chili-Lime Seasoning — $17

Rad Beer Co. Laces Out, Dan IPA — $12

Rad Beer Co. Laces Out, Dan IPA Michelada — With Chile-Lime Seasoning and Lime — $14

Two Coast Brewing Co. Saint Father Festbier — $13.25

North Coast Brewing Red Seal Ale (Nitro) — $13.25

Stone Brewing Imperial Stout — $13.25

Golden Road Brewing Christmas Cart Wheat Ale — $12

Brewery X Happy Holihaze Blood Orange Hazy IPA — $13.25

Stereo Brewing Love Buzz Coffee Amber Ale — $13.25

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA — $12

Alesmith Brewing Nut Brown Ale — $12

Ficklewood Ciderworks Bramblebark — $14.75

Juneshine Hard Kombucha Açaí Berry — $13.25

Allagash Brewing Curieux Bourbon Barrel-Aged Golden Ale — $14.75

Bottle Logic Hexpresso Stout Pumpkin Spice Latte Stout — $12

Pacific Wharf Cafe

Firestone 805 — $11

Pym Tasting Lab

New Belgium Brewing Co. Voodoo Ranger Juice Force Hazy Imperial IPA — $12

Bambucha Blueberry Vanilla Hard Kombucha Mango Wheat Ale — $12

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery SeaQuench Sour Ale — $12

Pym Tasting Kitchen

Four Sons Brewing Surf City Pale Ale — $12.00

Smokejumpers Grill

Bourbon Sweet Lemonade Tea — Jack Daniels, Black Tea, Lemonade and Honey with a Lemon Wedge — $15.50

Honest Abe Blueberry Mead — $13.25

Pabst Blue Ribbon Lager — $10.75

Karl Strauss Brewing Co. Mosaic IPA — $12

Bootleggers Rocco Red Ale — $12.00

Blue Raspberry Cocktail — $16.50

The revamped “World of Color – One” water show will take over DCA’s Paradise Bay on Jan. 27 as part of the Disney100 celebration at the Disneyland resort.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland’s most crowded days of 2022 — See the list

Like many things at Disneyland now, you’ll need to have your smartphone handy and your itchy trigger finger ready if you want to land a coveted virtual queue spot for the new “World of Color” show.

You’ll have one or two chances a day to nab a virtual queue spot for “World of Color – One” – depending on whether there are one or two shows each night. But you’ll need to move fast and make sure you’re poised to pounce once the starting gun is fired.

Virtual queue spots will be distributed daily beginning at noon through the Disneyland app. On nights with multiple showtimes, virtual queue spots for the second show will be distributed immediately after the distribution ends for the first show.

“World of Color – One” will be presented at 9 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. on Jan. 27-29 and the first two weekends in February. Weekday performances typically have one performance at 9 p.m. – but not always. The Wednesday, Feb. 1 show is at 7:30 p.m. and Valentine’s Day has two shows on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland submarines already rusting badly after yearlong refurbishment — See photos

It’s free to join the “World of Color – One” virtual queue provided you have a ticket and reservation for Disney California Adventure or a Disneyland parkhopper ticket.

Magic Key annual passholders with a reservation for either Disneyland or DCA should be able to join the noon virtual queue before parkhopping begins at 1 p.m. daily.

Daily visitors and passholders will need to enter DCA or Disneyland to join the “World of Color” virtual queue.

If history repeats itself, “World of Color” virtual queue spots could disappear within seconds if you’re not poised to pounce with a countdown clock ticking off the seconds until high noon.

Experienced Disneylanders know the drill all too well – having been through it before with Rise of the Resistance and Web Slingers virtual queues tied to a daily launch times.

Lucky visitors who win the “World of Color” daily lottery will be assigned to the blue or yellow viewing areas for the show via the Disneyland app.

You’ll need to show up early if you want to stand close to the water in the “You May Get Wet” section. Disneyland recommends arriving 30 to 45 minutes before the show begins.

Walk-up viewing areas will be available for those who lose the “World of Color” lottery or forget to enter the daily sweepstakes – but Disneyland highly recommends joining the virtual queue and warns late-comer spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The backstory for the new water show celebrates the journey of a single drop of water that creates a ripple and eventually grows into a wave of change.

“World of Color – One” will feature moments from “Moana,” “Coco,” “Mulan,” “Soul,” “Lion King” and Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel films projected on water screens in DCA’s Paradise Bay.

The show’s new original song “Start a Wave” was written by Grammy-nominated “American Idol” songwriter Cody Fry and performed by “The Voice” singer Loren Allred.

The new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway trackless dark ride and “Wondrous Journeys” fireworks show will also debut at Disneyland on Jan. 27 alongside the “World of Color – One” water show at DCA. The Magic Happens parade returns Feb. 24 after a pandemic-shortened run in 2020.

Wait times collected by Thrill Data show crowd levels reached their high point at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure more than two dozen times in 2022.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland submarines already rusting badly after yearlong refurbishment — See photos

Thrill Data scrapes wait times released through the Disneyland mobile app and uses data analytics to track trends and generate charts about the visitor experience at the parks. Disneyland officials rarely discuss attendance numbers or crowd levels.

All of the busiest periods at Disneyland and DCA during 2022 fell during school holidays. While dates vary by district, school breaks tend to be tied to national and religious holidays.

Here are the busiest periods at the Disneyland resort during 2022, according to wait times collected by Thrill Data:

• Winter Break/Presidents Day – Feb. 17-24
• Spring Break/Easter – April 9-17
• Start of Summer – June 13-22
• Fall Break/Columbus Day – Oct. 3-16
• Thanksgiving Week – Nov. 19-25
• Christmas/New Year’s – Dec. 21-31

Here are the average wait times on the 26 busiest days in 2022 when the wait factor reached a peak of 10 on a 10 scale at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, according to Thrill Data. Ties are shown in chronological order.

1. Monday, April 11 – 52 minutes
2. Tuesday, April 12 – 52 minutes
3. Wednesday, April 13 – 52 minutes
4. Thursday, April 14 – 51 minutes
5. Saturday, Oct. 15 – 50 minutes
6. Wednesday, Feb. 23 – 49 minutes
7. Tuesday, Dec. 27 – 48 minutes
8. Wednesday, Dec. 28 – 48 minutes
9. Friday, Dec. 30 – 48 minutes
10. Saturday, Dec. 31 – 48 minutes
11. Wednesday, Oct. 12 – 47 minutes
12. Tuesday, June 14 – 46 minutes
13. Wednesday, June 15 – 46 minutes
14. Thursday, June 16 – 46 minutes
15. Monday, June 20 – 46 minutes
16. Wednesday, Dec. 28 – 46 minutes
17. Saturday, April 16 – 45 minutes
18. Sunday, April 17 – 45 minutes
19. Saturday, Oct. 22 – 45 minutes
20. Thursday, Dec. 29 – 45 minutes
21. Tuesday, Feb. 22 – 44 minutes
22. Friday, April 15 – 44 minutes
23. Monday, June 13 – 44 minutes
24. Tuesday, June 21 – 44 minutes
25. Wednesday, June 22 – 44 minutes
26. Thursday, July 28 – 44 minutes

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the vast majority of the busiest days of the year at Disneyland and DCA fell on weekdays.

The Disneyland resort experienced the longest average wait times of the year – 52 minutes – three times during that Spring Break period in April, according to Thrill Data.

The best periods to visit Disneyland in 2022, according to wait times collected by Thrill Data:

• Post-Christmas season/Lunar New Year celebration – Jan. 7 to Feb. 14
• End of Summer/Back to School – Aug. 8 to Sept. 30

The best week of 2022 at Disneyland with the lowest wait times was Sept. 4-10. The best day of the year to visit Disneyland also fell during that Back to School week. Average wait times dropped to a yearly low of 15 minutes on Friday, Sept. 9.

The average wait time at Disneyland and DCA for 2022 was 31 minutes, according to Thrill Data.

Festivities officially begin on Jan. 27. And though it might feel like you need a fairy godmother to plan (or pay for) your visit, there are plenty of ways to maximize your time and money to see the new attractions.

In the morning

Many of Disney’s popular characters have their own rides, so it’s only fitting that Mickey Mouse should finally get one of his own. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open on Jan. 27 as a dark ride.

Len Testa, president of Disney vacation planning website Touring Plans, recommends lining up at the “rope drop,” which is when the park opens, to beat the crowds.

“The only way to avoid a long wait for Runaway Railway will be to arrive at the park early — at least an hour before the park’s scheduled opening time,” Testa says. “Then you’ll be at the head of the pack rushing to Runaway Railway first thing in the morning.”

The rest of the renovated Mickey’s Toontown land will reopen on March 8. If you have toddlers who would enjoy the kiddie roller coaster or new play areas, plan your Disney100 trip for the spring or later in the year.

Pick a view spot

The short-lived Magic Happens parade is returning on Feb. 24 after a hiatus due to the pandemic. This rendition of the parade features characters from newer movies, including “Frozen 2” and “Moana.”

“Look for spots at least an hour before if you want an unobstructed viewing spot in front of the crowd,” Testa says.

While he says any spot along the parade route is fine, photographers should prioritize Main Street, U.S.A. or the park’s central hub in front of the castle for better backgrounds.

Beci Mahnken, founder and CEO of travel agency MEI-Travel and Mouse Fan Travel, prioritizes crowd avoidance.

“I prefer the area near It’s a Small World or Pixie Hollow, where it’s less crowded and you may even find a bench if you arrive early enough,” she says.

Stay late

Disneyland will debut a nighttime show called Wondrous Journeys on Jan. 27 with a new song and projections around the park. Baymax, the inflatable robot from the film “Big Hero 6,” will star in the show, taking flight through the skies around Sleeping Beauty Castle. Not every performance of Wondrous Journeys will include fireworks, but these less dazzling shows will probably be less crowded, too. If you want to see fireworks, you’ll have to go on the weekend or a peak night during the spring or summer, according to an email with a spokesperson for Disney.

“The best spot to view fireworks is in the central hub with a clear view of the castle and the sky above Disneyland,” says Testa.

At Disneyland’s sister park, California Adventure, the iconic water show, World of Color, is set for a refresh as well. The new show is called World of Color – One.

Make reservations

Maximizing your time — and money — at Disney begins long before you arrive at the park. First, you’ll have to figure out when you’re going to visit and what kind of ticket to buy. Keep the opening dates of the new attractions in mind.

Park Hopper tickets allow you to access two parks in a single day, and they’re more expensive per day than the alternate one-park-per-day ticket. If you only have one day to visit both parks, then Park Hopper is the only way to visit both. It’ll put you back at least $169 for one-day, two-park adult admission. But if you have at least two days, it’s sometimes cheaper to get a one-park-per-day ticket, which starts at $143 per day for two days of adult admission.

All those ticket options can be confusing to some guests, so Mahnken recommends doing your own research or working with a fee-free travel agent.

“There’s an initial learning curve, and sometimes an additional charge, but once you understand how to use the tools, it can be a big time saver,” Mahnken says. “It’s no secret that a visit to Disneyland isn’t as simple as buying a ticket and just showing up.”

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Sally French is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage reopened in July after an extended refurbishment that kept the popular Tomorrowland attraction closed when the Anaheim theme park returned from a yearlong pandemic closure.

Highly visible rust stains drip down the sides of the yellow submarines from the fins and hatches — leaving embarrassing blemishes on a fleet that was once the pride of Walt Disney himself.

Walt Disney described the underwater attraction through “liquid space” as the eighth largest fleet in the world when the submarine ride was christened in 1959.

For a theme park that prides itself on perfection, the rust stains on such a high-profile attraction represent the height of what Disneyland calls “bad show.”

The rusty fleet of Disneyland subs is driving MiceChat nuts.

“After the lengthy refurbishment to completely repaint and repair the entire lagoon and every submarine, rust is already showing up on the subs in various places,” according to the Disney fan website.

Disneyland appears to have come up with a fix to the rusty stains: Installing replacement fins that are bolted on rather than welded.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland doesn’t plan to close its gates as holiday crowds fill the park

The disappointing but necessary rust-proofing fix takes away from the sleek aesthetic of the Disneyland subs, according to MiceChat.—

“Looking closely at the new fins, you can see that they are well-sealed and easy to replace,” according to MiceChat.

The advance reservation system in place since Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopened after a yearlong pandemic closure in April 2021, paired with a complete block out of Magic Key annual passholders, will prevent walk-up visitors from inundating the park this year between Christmas and New Year’s.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland issues ‘Courtesy’ warning after increase in fights at Disney theme parks

This holiday season, Disneyland shouldn’t experience the pre-pandemic need to close the gates previously seen between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, according to Disneyland officials. The advance reservation system allows Disneyland to better manage visitation and park capacity, according to Disneyland officials.

This week has already seen two of the busiest days of the year fill Disneyland and Disney California Adventure with wait factors at a 10 out of 10 scale, according to Thrill Data.

Tuesday, Dec. 27 saw attraction wait times hit an average of 48 minutes at Disneyland and DCA that climbed to 51 minutes on Wednesday, Dec. 28, according to Thrill Data.

SEE ALSO: This $185 Disneyland holiday booze shot costs more than a ticket to the park

Disney fans determined to visit the “Busiest Place on Earth” were met with longer than usual wait times on Wednesday for Radiator Springs Racers (2.5 hours), Rise of the Resistance (2 hours) and Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout (2 hours).

Touring Plans estimates Disneyland crowds will be at a peak level on Wednesday. Inclement weather earlier in the week likely caused some visitors to delay their visits.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Disneyland occasionally halted visitors from entering when the park reached capacity, which is estimated to be about 75,000 people. Disney doesn’t release attendance figures.

In 2019, Disneyland temporarily shut its gates on Friday, Dec. 27 as crowds filled the park and new visitors were directed to Disney California Adventure across the esplanade until attendance levels declined.

Disneyland introduced an advance reservation system in April 2021 after a yearlong pandemic shutdown that helped manage Christmas crowds and prevent gate closures last year during the busy holiday season.

The $185 Remy the 13th waffle cone shot served with Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac is offered on the GCH Holiday Cart in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland issues ‘Courtesy’ warning after increase in fights at Disney theme parks

The Grand’s holiday treat cart sells $17 shots of Crown Royal Apple, RumChata and Fireball Whiskey in a waffle cone shot glass lined with milk or white chocolate. The menu instructs customers to “inquire” about the price of a waffle shot of Remy the 13th.

Speaking of liquid inside, we noticed that there is now a bigger variety of liquor that you can have in the waffle shot, including the Louie! #grandcalifornianhotel #holidaysbeginhere #disneyland #magicisback #magicishere 3/3 pic.twitter.com/AH4I9kJLEP

— cstephens2 (@cstephens2@mastodon.social) (@cstephens2) November 13, 2022

SFGate’s Disneyland contributing editor Julie Tremaine inquired about the cost of the specialty drink and got a jaw-dropping answer: $185 for a 1.5-ounce pour of Louis XIII.

That’s more than the cost of a single-day ticket to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure next door to the Disney hotel.

Disneyland quietly raised daily single-park ticket prices in October to $179 on the busiest and most expensive days.

The $185 Disneyland holiday drink “pairs nicely with the ever-soaring Mouse House admission prices,” according to the always-snarky New York Post.

Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac — known as the most prestigious spirit on earth — sells for $4,000 a bottle. The Happiest Place on Earth is offering a relative deal on the rare blend of 1,200 cognacs, according to SFGate.

“A standard 1.5-ounce pour of Louis XIII can sell for something like $500 at trendy Los Angeles restaurants,” Tremaine wrote for SFGate. “So the fact that it’s ‘only’ $185 at Disneyland actually feels pretty reasonable.”

Disneyland has a history of hawking hard-to-find items at shocking prices. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has sold life-size remote controlled R2-D2 droids for $25,000 and First Order stormtrooper armor for $6,615. The Disney Wish cruise ship has sold a $5,000 Kaiburr Crystal cocktail in the Star Wars-themed Hyperspace Lounge.