This Month at Disneyland Resort: May 2012
Welcome to the first monthly installment of This Month at Disneyland, TouringPlans.com‘s regular round-up of upcoming events and operations in and around the Anaheim resort. If you are planning a visit to Disneyland in the next 30 days, this is your one-stop-shop for imminent information that may impact your vacation.
In addition to Disneyland.com and the Official Disney Parks Blog, much of the following news and photography comes courtesy of our friends at MousePlanet and MiceAge. Visit those sites for more images and up-to-the-minute updates.
Crowd Calendar
May may be your last best chance for crowd-free touring at Disneyland in 2012, since we expect the resort to be packed following California Adventure’s relaunch in mid-June. Weekdays this May should be especially low-key, with growing wait times on the weekends building towards Memorial Day.
- Quietest Days: Resort attendance should be lowest (1 out of 10) on May 3 and 7-9.
- Busiest Days: Resort attendance should be highest (8 out of 10) on May 25-28.
Subscribe to the Touring Pans Disneyland Crowd Calendar for full details on predicted attendance for the next 30 days.
Special Events
- Disneyland celebrates Cinco de Mayo on May 5. Look for decorations around Rancho del Zocalo, and a special menu at Tortilla Joe’s in Downtown Disney.
- AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County holds a charity walk at Disneyland early on the morning of May 6.
- On May 10, Disney Legend Alice Davis will receive a long-deserved tribute window on Main Street USA. The Imagineer was responsible for the costume designs of classic attractions including Pirates of the Caribbean and it’s a small world. Her window will be next to the one honoring her husband, late Imagineer Marc Davis.
- To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fantasmic! on May 13, Disneyland is holding after-hours parties for Annual Passholders on May 14, 15, 21, & 22.
- Grad Nights return on May 10 & 11, 16-18, 23-25, 30 & 31. Expect large platoons of busses delivering hordes of teenagers to the resort for all-night parties on those evenings.
Opening, Closures, and Refurbishments
Disneyland
- The candy store, Penny Arcade, and Gibson Girl ice cream parlor on Main Street USA reopen on May 2 following a major refurbishment. Carnation Cafe remains closed until June 2.
- The Carnation Plaza Gardens closed forever on April 30, to be transformed into the Princess Fantasy Faire in 2013. Saturday swing dancing will be relocated to Downtown Disney in the interim.
- Beginning May 2, the Frontierland Festival Arena stage will become home to the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree, with characters and crafts Friday-Sunday. This will also be where school musical groups perform.
- Matterhon Bobsleds remain closed for a major overhaul until June 15.
- Indiana Jones Adventure is closed for a quick refurb on May 1&2.
- Enchanted Tiki Room is closed May 7-10.
- Frontierland Shooting Exposition is closed now through May 25.
- A new summertime sandcastle sequence featuring “Phineas and Ferb” will be added to the Magic, Memories, and You show starting May 25.
Disney California Adventure
- Ariel’s Grotto restaurant is closed through May 3, and the attached Cove Bar is closed through June 1.
- Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is closed through May 3.
- Goofy’s Sky School is closed May 7-17.
- Buena Vista Street and Cars Land remain under construction until June 15, though some soft-openings are possible later in the month.
Downtown Disney
- The large LEGO Imagination store is under refurbishment, with no exact reopening date announced. The temporary LEGO store in the former home of Island Charter will become the WonderGround art gallery on June 9.
- Compass Books and Coffee is permanently closed, and will be replaced by Earl of Sandwich later this summer.
- The Sunglass Icon store is being remodeled and will reopen later this summer.
Other Area Attractions
- Transformers: The Ride officially opens on May 25th at Universal Studios Hollywood. The new 3-D dark ride is currently running in soft-opening; read the rave reviews on MiceChat here.
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7 Responses to “This Month at Disneyland Resort: May 2012”
You may also want to note that Disneyland and Girl Scouts, USA are celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouts on May 26th with Bridging ceremonies being held in front of the castle from opening until about noon. This event is sold-out.
Thanks! I found a note about Girl Scouts in the park May 26 & 27, but didn’t have any info on how will will affect operations.
I’m planning to be in Disneyland on May 11th. What time do the grads roll in? Should we plan to take off early?
Gran nite ticket holders can now enter the parks any time during the day, so there shouldn’t be as huge a rush in at once around closing. Crowd levels are predicted at 5, but Disneyland is open until 11. You may want to hit the big rides early in the day and depart one the kids start flooding in.
Seth, thanks for the post. Any idea what impact the After Hours AP parties will have on daytime crowds during May 14 and 15? Thanks!
I haven’t seen hard numbers, but I’d imagine an influx of annual pass holders on a weekday evening shouldn’t greatly impact morning and afternoon crowds, since most locals won’t come until after work.
Seth, ill be going to CA May 21 – May 24, 2012. What days should we vist Disneyland and CA Adventure? Thanks!