What has changed since last year?

[DHSbutcher]

Hello! I have a trip that leaves in 6 days! I'll be spending roughly 6 days in the park- I am so excited! I've been to DL last year for a few days, and the year before for a couple of days. And now I'm back on the boards wondering if there is a list anywhere of things that might have changed since I visited last August.

This will be a solo trip so I will have all the time to explore every little detail- so I want to be sure I don't miss anything! I work at WDW so I am always up to date on what is happening in Florida- but am near clueless as to what is happening/changing in California. I don't have time to read through a year of announcements and news, I am aware of the 60th bday celebrations, but what else has changed? Any new policies to be concerned about, new character meet and greets, any new hidden gems or new favorite foods appear?

I will be spending the next few days getting ready for my trip and making smaller plans such as dining, transportation, etc. Also curious if anyone could tell me the cheapest way to get from SNA to the Hilton Anaheim? Cab? Uber? Shuttle? It's just me traveling by myself. 2 nights at the Hilton, then 3 nights at Paradise Pier concierge level. What about traveling to LAX? My departure leaves at 10pm on Wednesday night, traveling from the Paradise Pier is there a shuttle or car service anyone recommends?

Thank you in advance,
Sophia

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Peter Pan went through an update similar to the one for Alice in Wonderland although I don't feel they did as much with Peter Pan. Still worth a ride-through to see the changes. Matterhorn has also been updated. Sadly the bobsleds are the same as from the last refurb, but the animatronics inside have been plussed up. Anna and Elsa meet and greet has moved from Fantasyland in DL to Animation Academy in DCA. There is also fastpass now. There is an Olaf meet and greet in DCA too. Frozen Sing-Along is currently in the muppets theater. Soarin' over California has gone digital. I think you probably have all of the Frozen stuff in WDW and I know you have Soarin', so I guess you may not care about those things as much. They have re-themed the Condor Flats area to Grizzly Peak. The former Taste Pilot's Grill still serves mostly the same kinds of food but is worth a walk-through just for the theming. There is a clever and fun Frozen storytelling show in the theater in the princess fantasy fair in DL. Last I checked it was fastpass only, so you will want to stop by for one of those. The show fastpass doesn't conflict with other fastpasses. Fantasmic has now gone to fastpass system as well, and there also dining options for securing a Fantasmic fastpass similar to what is offered for World of Color. Marvel meet and greets are outside in Tomorrowland until Innoventions work gets done. Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters has fastpass again, and it's not connected to the rest of the network. You say you are up on the 60th stuff, and there's lots of thread devoted to all that, so I won't repeat here. No selfie sticks anymore, but that's an all parks thing too, so you probably knew that already.