Disneyland update: Large cranes dominate the skyline of future ‘Star Wars’ land

The theater in Disney California Adventure that normally shows "A Bug's Life" is currently showing a preview for Disney's newest animated film, "Moana." (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Meanwhile, over at Disneyland, the park closes earlier to regular visitors so it can host Mickey's Halloween Party in the evenings many days during October. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The ducks still populate the Rivers of America, even without any boat traffic at Disneyland. The duck in the upper left was named Col. Glazier, the one in the middle is named Kevin. The other ducks would not give their names, they were in a fowl mood. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland is currently in its Halloween and Christmas mode, based on the Tim Burton movie "A Nightmare Before Christmas." (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Disney Imagineers plan their next steps in the refit of the Sailing Ship Columbia at Disneyland. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Splash Mountain is closed for refurbishment, giving the critters inside the attraction a break from singing and more. Disneyland is also closing all of Critter Country Monday through Friday during the time the mountain is closed.
The front porch on Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A. is open for sitting again, after a refurbishment, as Ashley Aguirre of Long Beach was doing Wednesday morning. "I sometimes like to sit and people watch," she said. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The inoperable cannon in Town Square at Disneyland, have been moved onto brick pads inside the planters so that kids and others can no longer climb on them. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Disneyland is no longer allowing guests to visit the idle steam engine of the Disneyland Railroad at the Main Street Station. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The “Tower of Terror” is still open, even with scaffolding surrounding the upper floors of the building in Disney California Adventure. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Scaffolding has surrounded what was the Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney California Adventure. The Tower of Terror ride is still running, and will continue through January 2, 2017. But Disney Imagineers have started the process of adding new theming to the outside of the building for the new ride based on the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In Disney California Adventure's Hollywood Backlot area, the stage that used to be the center of activity for the Tea Party and Electonica has been removed, making it easier to see the entrance to the “Monsters Inc.” attraction. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The theater at Disney California Adventure that had a "Frozen" sing along, and used to house "MuppetVision 3D" is now showing a preview of the Marvel film "Doctor Strange." (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A crane working on the construction of "Star Wars" land towers over Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mater has found a new place to hang out, near the scenic turnout in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The lawn in Cars Land, in front of the Cozy Cone Motel, at Disney California Adventure has been replaced with an artificial lawn, to cut down on water needs in the dry Southern California climate. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Along the tramway route at the Disneyland Resort, the landscaping department has replaced the grass with drought-tolerant plants and decorative rocks. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In this view from Tarzan's Treehouse inside Disneyland, the tall cranes loom above the trees on Tom Sawyer Island. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A wide view of the entire "Star Wars" land construction area at Disneyland. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cranes all around the "Star Wars" land construction obscure the view of Critter Country at Disneyland. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The big pit for what will be a show building in "Star Wars" land is getting the white wash treatment. If the Rebellion was trying to hide it, painting it white didn't help their cause, but if the Empire painted it white to camouflage their stormtroopers, it's working. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Another access tunnel is getting more concrete work done in the "Star Wars" land construction area. This appears to have only one entrance, it could be the secret entrance to a hidden rebel base. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
One of the access tunnels to "Star Wars" land appears to be complete at Disneyland, except for theming. The Disneyland Railroad will ride over the top of this tunnel. Or it could be an entrance to a secret Rebel base. Time will tell in this land that will be from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

By Mark Eades | meades@scng.com | Orange County Register

October 20, 2016 at 6:20 a.m.

Cranes, lots of them, dominate the skyline above the “Star Wars” land construction zone at Disneyland.

While there is still a lot of dirt visible in the construction zone, more concrete walls and tunnels were taking shape in the new land, including the new route for the Disneyland Railroad.

Meanwhile, over at Disney California Adventure, scaffolding is now surrounding the upper floors of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, the home of the Tower of Terror. The elevators are still taking riders on freefall rides through Jan. 2, 2017, but Disney Imagineers have started working on the new theme for the exterior of the building for the new version, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout, which will premiere in May.

Both 3D theaters in the same park are being used for previews of upcoming films, Disney Animation’s “Moana” and Marvel’s “Doctor Strange.”

Splash Mountain is closed for its annual refurbishment, and Disneyland officials decided to close all of Critter Country on weekdays during this time.

In Mickey’s Toontown, humans continue to paint some of the buildings, as the Toons don’t like to touch paint, which could splash onto their own painted bodies.

The Main Street Station of the Disneyland Railroad has been closed to visitors for now, but the New Orleans Square/Frontierland Station is still allowing visitors to walk right up to one of the rail line’s steam engines.

Halloween is in full costumed regalia throughout Disneyland as the park continues to host Mickey’s Halloween Party many days each week, closing the park early to regular visitors, so that those who purchased tickets to the event can enjoy special, slightly villainous, activities and trick-or-treating.

Contact the writer: meades@scng.com or follow on twitter @markaeades