Orange County health officials are warning of another possible measles exposure after a confirmed case visited Disneyland last month.
The OC Health Care Agency on Saturday said an individual who was infectious with measles visited Disneyland Park on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Disney California Adventure Park from 3 p.m. until closing.
Anyone who was at those locations during the listed times may be at risk of developing measles symptoms between seven and 21 days after exposure, officials said.
The warning follows a measles exposure notice issued last week involving an international traveler who passed through Los Angeles International Airport and later visited Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Health officials urged people who are not fully vaccinated or who are unsure of their immunity status to contact a healthcare provider about receiving the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
“There are populations who cannot receive the measles vaccine — whether due to age, health conditions or allergies,” said Dr. Anissa Davis, Orange County’s deputy health officer. “Those individuals may face significantly higher health risks when exposed to the virus.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 733 measles cases have been confirmed across 20 states nationwide this years as of Feb. 5.
Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that begins on the face and spreads to the body, the agency said.
Health officials advised anyone who develops symptoms to stay home and call a medical provider before seeking care to avoid exposing others.
Police arrested a 24-year-old DUI suspect from Riverside in connection with an early morning traffic collision that killed a pregnant woman in Anaheim.
The Anaheim Police Department, along with Anaheim Fire and Rescue personnel, responded to reports of an injury traffic collision at the intersection of North Anaheim Boulevard and State Route 91 about 12:10 a.m. Sunday, according to APD Sgt. Eric Anderson.
A preliminary investigation indicated a Toyota four-door sedan was southbound on North Anaheim Boulevard and entered the intersection when it was struck by an eastbound Lexus sedan that ran a red light on the SR-91 freeway frontage road, Anderson said.
Responders found a pregnant female passenger trapped inside the Toyota upon arrival. Despite lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene, Anderson said. An estimate of her age was not provided, nor how far along in her pregnancy she was.
The Toyota driver and two Lexus passengers were transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, he said. A description of those people was not provided.
Daniel Ramos, 24, of Riverside had been at the wheel of the Lexus and “exhibited objective signs and symptoms of impairment,” Anderson said.
Ramos was taken into custody at the scene and later booked into the Anaheim Detention Facility for felony driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. Due to the victim being pregnant, additional charges may be considered pending the outcome of the investigation.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information related to it was encouraged to call the Anaheim Police Department at 714-765-1900. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or online at occrimestoppers.org.
Foodies will be flocking to the Disneyland resort this weekend for the kickoff of the festival season and a chance to sample a dozen new food and drink items from the Lunar New Year menu with a Sip & Savor pass.
The 2026 Lunar New Year event will run on Friday, Jan. 23 through Feb. 22 at Disney California Adventure.
The Asian-inspired food festival pays tribute to Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions with a lineup of multicultural live entertainment and Disney characters dressed in festive attire.
The six festival marketplace booths will once again include Bamboo Blessings, Wrapped in Love, Lucky 8 Lantern, Red Dragon Spice Traders, Prosperity Bao & Bun and Longevity Noodle Co.
Sip & Savor passes available during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
DCA restaurants offering new Sip & Savor menu items during the Lunar New Year festival will include Aunt Cass Cafe, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Cozy Cone Motel, Hollywood Lounge, Lamplight Lounge, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Paradise Garden Grill, Smokejumpers Grill and Studio Catering Co.
The 2026 Sip and Savor pass with six digital coupons good for individual items at marketplace booths and select restaurants throughout the festival will cost $49 ($46 for Magic Keyholders).
Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession during Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Let’s take a closer look at all the new food and drinks available with the Sip and Savor pass during Disney’s Lunar New Year festival.
Marketplace Booths
Sip & Savor passes can be used for most of the new and returning food and nonalcoholic beverages at the Lunar New Year festival marketplace booths along the DCA parade route.
This year’s festival marketplace menu lineup will be dominated mostly by returning favorites — with only two new food items and one new nonalcoholic drink.
Five-Spice Popcorn Chicken available at Bamboo Blessings marketplace booth during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Bamboo Blessings
Five-Spice Popcorn Chicken with sweet chile-garlic sauce
Guava Dragon Fruit Sparkler made with lemonade, sparkling mineral water, guava and dragon fruit syrups and a frozen dragon fruit garnish
Japchae Noodles available at Longevity Noodle Co. marketplace booth during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Longevity Noodle Co.
Japchae Noodles with kalbi short rib
DCA Restaurants
Festival-goers looking for something new to eat with their Sip & Savor passes will have to try the tasting-size portions at select restaurants and vending carts throughout DCA.
Crispy Fried Chicken Bao available at Cozy Cone Motel during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Cozy Cone Motel
Cars Land
Crispy Fried Chicken Bao coated in sweet chile sauce with cucumbers, carrots and sesame seeds served in a soft bao bun
Tteokbokki Rice Cakes available at Hollywood Lounge and Studio Catering Co. during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Hollywood Lounge and Studio Catering Co.
Hollywood Land
Tteokbokki rice cakes with gochujang sauce topped with cheese, sesame seeds and green onions
Grilled Lemongrass Pork Belly Skewers available at Paradise Garden Grill during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Paradise Garden Grill
Paradise Gardens Park
Grilled Lemongrass Pork Belly Skewers served with fried garlic rice, pickled carrots and daikon radish with a side salad
Bulgogi Fries with marinated beef, kimchi, cucumber, mozzarella cheese and gochujang aioli topped with sesame seeds and green onions
Bulgogi Fries available at Smokejumpers Grill and Paradise Garden Grill during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Smokejumpers Grill
Grizzly Peak
Bulgogi Fries with marinated beef, kimchi, cucumber, mozzarella cheese and gochujang aioli topped with sesame seeds and green onions
Pandan Cheesecake available at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
Paradise Gardens Park
Pandan Cheesecake with brown butter graham crust, coconut whipped topping and strawberry jam
Strawberry Green Tea Bread Pudding available at Aunt Cass Cafe during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Aunt Cass Cafe
San Fransokyo Square
Strawberry Green Tea Bread Pudding with green tea creme anglaise and whipped topping
Almond Cold Brew with orange cold foam
Mango Milk Tea available at Lucky Fortune Cookery during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Lucky Fortune Cookery
San Fransokyo Square
Mango Milk Tea with brown sugar tapioca spheres topped with pineapple cold foam
The Feng Li Su Churro available at the Hollywood Land Churro Cart during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Hollywood Land Churro Cart
Feng Li Su Churro rolled in shortbread sugar topped with pineapple jelly and cherry-flavored popping pearls
Spicy Pork Belly Grilled Cheese available at Studio Catering Co. during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
More New Food
A handful of new Lunar New Year food items will not be available with the Sip & Savor pass.
Chef’s Special with Mongolian Beef (Lamplight Lounge)
Coconut Pandan Donuts (Lamplight Lounge)
Vietnamese Coffee Roulade (Paradise Garden Grill)
Year of the Horse Bread (Aunt Cass Cafe, Cozy Cone Motel and Boudin Bread Cart)
Guava Cocktail available during the 2026 Lunar New Year food festival at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
Cocktails & Beer
The rest of the new items on the Lunar New Year menu will be filled out with several dozen cocktails, spiked coffees, beers and seltzers. Sip & Savor passes can’t be used on alcoholic drinks.
A Garden Grove Police officer was in the hospital in critical but stable condition Sunday after being hit by a vehicle while responding to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Police Department.
Shortly after midnight on Sunday morning, officers were in the area of Brookhurst Street and Stanford Avenue investigating a report of a man threatening people with a knife at a small commercial strip mall, according to Sgt. Nick Jensen, a public information officer.
Police arrived, and as they attempted to arrest him, he took off running and there was a pursuit on foot. The officer was then struck by a vehicle.
Anaheim, Orange and Westminster police were part of the response, according to post on Instagram by Garden Grove police.
The suspect was arrested and has been charged with several felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats. Jensen identified him as Lonnie Johnson, 34, with no permanent address.
Police were not yet releasing the name of the injured officer, as relatives were being notified.
The driver of the vehicle that hit the officer stayed on the scene and cooperated with police, Jensen said. He was not arrested.
It’s just a few simple ingredients, but the mad genius who first decided to dunk an entire triple-decker sandwich in the deep fat fryer should either be awarded all the Michelin stars or tried for war crimes. The recipe dates back more than a century, suspiciously close to the release of the silent blockbuster Monte Cristo in 1922.
Tiny Naylors Drive-In at Sunset and La Brea in HollywoodCredit: Photo courtesy University of Southern California Libraries and California Historical Society
Seventy-five years ago, a cookbook author claimed the decadent turkey, ham and Swiss (similar to a French Croque Monsieur) originated in San Francisco. “That’s probably true,” says Biff Naylor, whose family has been in the restaurant business for a century. “L.A. was kind of backwoods cooking in the 1920s.”
Photoplay reported Casablanca actor Peter Lorre munching on one and soon, the knife-and-fork sandwich was on the menu at fashionable Hollywood establishments like Tail o’ the Cock, Nikabob and the Brown Derby.
By the 1950s, Biff’s dad Tiny Naylor was using toothpicks to hold the halves together, dipping them in egg batter and deep-frying the concoction. “You couldn’t cook it on the grill because you couldn’t get the edges,” Naylor says. “The fryer became the way to get it evenly cooked on all sides.”
Vintage matchbooks from classic L.A. restaurants that currently serve the decadent Monte Cristo sandwichCredit: From the collection of Chris Nichols
When Disneyland’s Blue Bayou Restaurant opened in 1967, its version instantly became the most famous Monte Cristo in America. It’s still perfect, notwithstanding the price tag (park admission required) and monthslong wait for a reservation.
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Canter’s Deli on Fairfax Avenue in Los AngelesCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
Canter’s and Du-Par’s serve it, but unfried and therefore not authentic. Brent’s Deli and House of Pies do it right, and whose life would not be improved by a visit to HMS Bounty on Wilshire? My current favorite, though, is the textbook example at Keno’s in Anaheim: Deep-fried, powdered sugared, jam on the side and served in a sumptuous lounge banquette.
Keno’s Coffee Shop in AnaheimCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
Disneyland is ready to start work on a new parking structure for the influx of visitors flocking to see the new Avatar themed land, Marvel attractions and Coco boat ride debuting at the Anaheim theme park resort over the next five years.
Disneyland has filed a pair of building permits with the city of Anaheim for new commercial construction of a 3.2 million-square foot, 8-level parking structure as part of the $1.9 billion DisneylandForward project.
The permits also call for the installation of electrical, plumbing and mechanical services in addition to 300 electrical vehicle chargers at the East Parking Structure.
The new 6,000-space Eastside parking structure and transportation hub would push the existing Disneyland bus drop off/pick up area along Harbor Boulevard to Disneyland’s Manchester employee parking lot that backs up to the I-5 Freeway.
A pedestrian bridge would connect visitors by foot between the existing Disneyland bus drop off/pick up area on the west side of Harbor Boulevard and Disneyland’s Manchester employee parking lot on the east side of Harbor Boulevard.
Concept art of the Disneyland pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard set to begin construction in Fall 2026. (Courtesy of Disney)
Work is set to begin in fall 2026 on the multiyear construction project on the east side of the Disneyland theme park resort.
The new garage and bridge are an essential first step as Disneyland plans to build four new attractions at Disney California Adventure over the next five years as part of the DisneylandForward plan.
Concept art of the Avatar themed land proposed for the Disneyland resort. (Courtesy of Disney)
The 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship is coming to Central Florida. On Tuesday, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission announced that Orlando and the Kia Center were selected to host a slew of matches for the global volleyball tournament. “We are proud that Orlando has been selected as a host city for the 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Championship, joining the Honda Center and OCVIBE in Anaheim,” Greater Orlando Sports Commission President and CEO Jason Siegel said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome this world-class event to the Kia Center and finalize the hosting agreement in the months ahead,” Siegel added. “As the world prepares for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, this historic tournament, which is being held in the United States and Canada for the very first time, marks an exciting milestone for the sport.” The Kia Center will host 14 matches over eight days, including the group stage and knockout rounds, Greater Orlando Sports Commission President and CEO Jason Siegel told WESH 2. Matches at the Kia Center will be held from Aug. 20-28, 2027. The championship match is slated for Sept. 5, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. A total of 32 countries, split into four quadrants, are expected to compete in the tournament. It will be the first time Orlando hosts an international Olympic qualifier. The tournament serves as an Olympic qualifier, which will see three teams qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The United States and Canada are co-hosting the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship. International sporting competitions are not new in Orlando. Central Florida recently hosted six matches across Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. With the FIFA Women’s World Cup slated to return to the United States and Mexico in 2031, Siegel told WESH 2 last April that there are plans to bid Orlando as a host city. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.
The 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship is coming to Central Florida.
On Tuesday, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission announced that Orlando and the Kia Center were selected to host a slew of matches for the global volleyball tournament.
“We are proud that Orlando has been selected as a host city for the 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Championship, joining the Honda Center and OCVIBE in Anaheim,” Greater Orlando Sports Commission President and CEO Jason Siegel said in a statement.
“We are excited to welcome this world-class event to the Kia Center and finalize the hosting agreement in the months ahead,” Siegel added. “As the world prepares for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, this historic tournament, which is being held in the United States and Canada for the very first time, marks an exciting milestone for the sport.”
The Kia Center will host 14 matches over eight days, including the group stage and knockout rounds, Greater Orlando Sports Commission President and CEO Jason Siegel told WESH 2.
Matches at the Kia Center will be held from Aug. 20-28, 2027.
The championship match is slated for Sept. 5, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
A total of 32 countries, split into four quadrants, are expected to compete in the tournament.
Getty ImagesMarcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Avery Skinner and her teammates celebrate after scoring a point during the volleyball match between Italy and the United States in Lodz, Poland, on July 23, 2025. This is the VNL Volleyball Nations League 2025 game – women’s Finals tournament at the Atlas Arena.
It will be the first time Orlando hosts an international Olympic qualifier.
The tournament serves as an Olympic qualifier, which will see three teams qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The United States and Canada are co-hosting the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship.
International sporting competitions are not new in Orlando. Central Florida recently hosted six matches across Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
With the FIFA Women’s World Cup slated to return to the United States and Mexico in 2031, Siegel told WESH 2 last April that there are plans to bid Orlando as a host city.
Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.
More than a neighborhood favorite, it may also be a Dodger favorite. Tacos Los Cholos got the call-up Monday to cater the World Series parade after-party.
The event went viral on social media after first baseman Freddie Freeman was spotted showing off his moves with an impressive worm dance.
But before their historic comeback Game 7 win in Toronto, the Los Angeles Dodgers asked the taqueria to stay ready in case of a celebration.
“They texted us really out of nowhere and told us, ‘Hey, if the Dodgers win, we need you there on Monday,” said taqueria manager Alvaro Maldonado.
Despite being an Anaheim Angels fan, Maldonado says he couldn’t believe it until the players began showing up.
“I was hoping Shohei would show up, but he didn’t show up. I was really excited to see Teoscar Hernandez. I’ve always liked watching him. It was awesome,” said Maldonado.
The taqueria, owned by Maldonado’s brother and his friend, started in 2019 from the front of his parents’ house before moving to a brick-and-mortar store. The restaurant has been a local favorite with lines forming outside before the business even opens.
“Just cooking outside, like in Mexico, you get that smoky flavor,” said Jesus, a customer describing the food experience at Tacos Los Cholos.
Video shared with NBC4 shows the taco stand in the foreground as the World Series champions celebrated with music and food.
“Last night was all love. Freddie was moving!!,” wrote Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts on his TikTok.
A new game design and esports pathway program is coming to Anaheim high schools.
The program was launched Monday to prepare students at the Anaheim Unified High School District (AUHSD) with the necessary skills to enter an evolving video game and interactive media industry, district officials said.
“Video game design is more than entertainment; it’s an emerging driver of the 21st-century economy,” said AUHSD Superintendent Michael Matsuda. “We’re opening doors for students to explore high-wage, high-growth fields with relevance.”
The pathway program, the AUHSD said, will include hands-on coursework in coding, narrative design and game engines, as well as mentorships with Fullerton College faculty and students and opportunities to participate in district-wide competitions.
Students can also pursue dual enrollment with Fullerton College for college credit and access to game labs and game design projects, according to the district.
The pathway will be available to students as early as junior high school and continue through high school, AUHSD said.
The curriculum will be available to students at Katella High School and South Junior High School for the 2025-26 school year.
The AUHSD also offers pathways in other industries such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and medicine.
The 2,000-pound Walt Disney animatronic at Disneyland weighs 10 times as much as the average American man and a thousand pounds more than the 9-foot-tall Frankenstein’s monster animatronic that just debuted at Florida’s Epic Universe theme park.
“It’s a lot of machinery,” according to Walt Disney Imagineering’s Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz. “It’s 2,000 pounds of an Audio-Animatronic figure that steps and rises during its performance.”
Shaver-Moskowitz revealed the new details about the “larger than life” Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic figure at Disneyland during “The Happiest Story on Earth” special on ABC’s “20/20” newsmagazine TV show.
The $5 million “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” animatronic show debuted in July in the Main Street Opera House as part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.
Imagineering vowed to create the “most life-like animatronic ever” and succeeded with the world’s first robotic figure of Walt Disney.
“That was a huge feat for the team to accomplish,” said Shaver-Moskowitz, an Executive Creative Producer at Imagineering.
An Audio-Animatronics of Walt Disney greets visitors to the Main Street Opera House during “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” inside Disneyland on July 14, 2025, in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The impressive Walt animatronic appears to walk toward the audience as he puts his hands on the edge of the desk, leans forward and takes a couple steps.
The Walt animatronic weighs more than five times as much the 375-pound Shaman of Songs animatronic in the Na’vi River Journey at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and more than twice as much as the 800-pound Frankenstein’s Monster animatronic in Universal’s new Monsters Unchained dark ride.
An Audio-Animatronics of Walt Disney greets visitors to the Main Street Opera House during “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” inside Disneyland on July 14, 2025, in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 2,000-pound robotic Walt is by no means the heaviest animatronic ever built.
The 8,000-pound Yeti animatronic in the Expedition Everest roller coaster stopped operating shortly after debuting in 2006 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. At the time, the 25-foot-tall Abominable Snowman was the largest and most complex animatronic figure ever built by Disney, according to Orlando Park Stop.
The temperamental Maleficent animatronic dragon in Disneyland’s “Fantasmic” nighttime spectacular — mockingly nicknamed Murphy by fans after Murphy’s Law — weighed 18,000 pounds before it was destroyed in a spectacular fire in 2023.
The 55,000-pound King Kong animatronic made by Italy-based EOS Rides is the centerpiece of a 2018 spinning roller coaster at Carthageland in Tunisia, according to Blooloop.
The new “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” animatronic show will initially run solo before playing in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”
The original Abraham Lincoln animatronic created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair weighed 140 pounds, significantly lighter than the 180-pound U.S. President, according to a memo from WED Enterprises, the precursor to Imagineering.
A group of Disney California Adventure guests may not have had the most incredible time on Sunday after they needed to be rescued from an “Incredibles”-themed roller coaster amid sweltering heat.
Park employees wearing safety harnesses made their way to the stranded guests and handed them umbrellas before they were escorted down from the ride. Temperatures in Anaheim reached 86 degrees on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
A Disneyland spokesperson said the ride was stalled for about 30 minutes and park employees followed their standard procedures to help the guests safely exit the ride.
A park guest who was staying at a nearby hotel with his family and said he had a front-row view of the ride from his room told KNBC-TV that the ride also stalled on Saturday.
“I thought maybe the ride was closed,” Vince Crandon said. “I was really concerned for the heat and obviously for the people. … It was not moving and was on top of the apex.”
It’s unclear what prompted the ride to stall or how long riders were stranded, but several videos shared on TikTok show that this is not the first time riders were forced to descend the ride after mechanical issues. Previous videos show riders descend several flights of stairs while being escorted by park employees.
The Incredicoaster, previously known as California Screaming, opened in June 2018 and stands 120 feet tall and has a top speed of 55 mph, according to the ride description.
A police pursuit that halted traffic for six hours on the 91 Freeway began with a Corona police investigation of a man accused of violating a domestic violence retraining order and ended with his suicide on the roadway.
Efrain Quezada, 40, of La Puente was being investigated by the Corona Police Department days before the Friday pursuit, said police Cpl. Tobias Kouroubacalis.
Corona officers were actively searching for Quezada, who was accused of stalking, making criminal threats and violating a domestic violence restraining order.
When officers found Quezada on Friday at around 8:05 a.m. they tried to conduct a traffic stop in the area of McKinley Street and Griffin Way in Corona, but he refused to pull over.
Instead, he led officers on a chase on the westbound side of the 91 Freeway for about 15 minutes before he stopped his blue four-door sedan in the middle of the roadway.
The Anaheim and Corona police departments used their armored vehicles to box in the sedan so he couldn’t move the car.
“Nearly the entire time, [Corona Police crisis negotiators] were on the phone with him, off and on, trying to negotiate a peaceful surrender,” Kouroubacalis said.
Both sides of the freeway were closed for about six hours because of the standoff. The California Highway Patrol directed motorists behind the standoff to exit the freeway.
The negotiation process proved fruitless, and Quezada ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around noon, Kouroubacalis said.
Traffic on the eastbound side of the 91 Freeway began flowing again around 12:45 p.m., but the westbound side remained closed until 3:48 p.m. as the Orange County Coroner’s Office and forensic team conducted their investigation , according to the Caltrans District 12 account on the social media platform X.
During the standoff, law enforcement vehicles created a barrier between Quezada and the miles-long line of waiting drivers.
Kouroubacalis said he is aware that people complained about the traffic.
“Our response to that is, if it was their family member or friend, they would want us or any law enforcement agency to take reasonable efforts to bring him out of the car peacefully,” he said.
“We did everything we could to get him to voluntarily comply with us and come out of the car, but it just did not work,” Kouroubacalis said.
Walt Disney famously said that Disneyland will never be completed. He was right.
The vote by the Anaheim City Council on Wednesday to approve the Disneyland resort’s $1.9-billion expansion plan is the latest of several huge investments made by the media giant at the 100-acre facility known to its fans as the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Once upon a time, Disneyland was just a concept that grew out of a visit by Disney to Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Then on July 17, 1955, the gates were flung open at the then-$17.5-million resort and things have never been the same for the city of Anaheim.
Ticket prices on opening day were $1 for an adult and 50 cents for a child, with each attraction charging extra at each location, ranging from 10 to 35 cents.
In February 2001, Disneyland threw open the doors on its 55-acre California Adventure. At the time, the $1.4-billion addition opened to poor reviews, leading some visitors to dub the park “Six Flags California Adventure,” a biting comparison to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Over the years, the park added Cars Land in a $1.1-billion makeover, Pixar Pier and other locations that harked back to an era of California when red trolleys owned the streets.
In 2019, Disneyland opened its 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a $1-billion expansion that features two rides, shops and retail outlets around the “Star Wars” movie franchise theme. Jedis and stormtroopers roam about the intergalactic city that encourages role-playing with in-character staff.
“If you want to sit back and just watch the world go by, that’s also fine, but I think one of the things that we know about our guests is they want more and more to lean into these stories,” says Imagineer Scott Trowbridge, whom Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger described on social media as the “creator” of Galaxy’s Edge.
The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride requires riders taking up different roles, with two gunners, engineers and a pair of pilots.
By June 2021, Disneyland set its sights on transporting guests to the world of the Marvel cinematic universe with its Avengers Campus. Built on the bones of A Bug’s Land, construction for the Avengers Campus was waylaid due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but eventually opened to much fanfare within California Adventure. The Orange County Business Journal estimates construction on the site cost $500 million, but the House of Mouse was mum on the official cost.
Avengers Campus boasts a Spider-Man stunt show with a robotic web-slinger who launches from one tower to another and flies 85 feet in the air. The character reappears as a costumed human who scales down the walls of the building to pose for photos with parkgoers at ground level.
Times staff writers Todd Martens and Hugo Martin contributed to this report.
Walking through the frosty, snow-covered hamlet of Arendelle from “Frozen,” or the bustling, critter-filled metropolis of “Zootopia” might be possible one day for visitors to Disney’s California theme parks.
That’s only if Disney wins approval from local officials to expand its Anaheim resort over the next four decades.
The proposed expansion wouldn’t increase Disney’s 490-acre footprint in Southern California or change what the company already has permission to build. But it could help the company develop new attractions. They could place rides and entertainment options on what is currently a sprawling, 50-acre parking lot — and move parking for Disneyland to a multistory structure — all while keeping within the boundaries of a resort surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
“We know there are stories out there we haven’t told yet, like ‘Wakanda’ or ‘Coco’ or ‘Frozen’ or ‘Zootopia’,” said Rachel Alde, Disney’s senior vice president of global development and finance. “We know what kind of stories we would love to tell. We need to get the guidance on what we can build there so we can understand how.”
A map shows the DisneylandForward expansion proposal. Credit: City of Anaheim (Click for larger version)
The city of Anaheim’s planning commission is scheduled Monday to review the proposal for Disneyland, dubbed the “happiest place on Earth.” The project — which would require Disney to invest at least $1.9 billion in the theme park, lodging, entertainment and related uses over the next decade — still must be approved by the city council before taking effect.
Disney’s goal is to create what it calls more immersive experiences for tourists, similar to the attraction Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened in California in 2019. The company said it doesn’t yet know which stories would be central to the new developments, but the idea is to create areas like “Zootopia” in Shanghai Disneyland, where animal characters walk through a vibrant cityscape that resembles the setting of the film.
Right now, there isn’t enough room in the original Disneyland in California to build something on a large scale without affecting existing attractions, which are relished by loyal, long-time visitors to the company’s oldest theme park, Alde said.
It’s the first time Disney has sought a major change to its California theme parks since the 1990s, when the company obtained approvals to turn its first park into a resort hub. It later added a second park, Disney California Adventure Park, and a shopping and entertainment area called Downtown Disney.
Disneyland, which dates back to 1955, was the second-most visited theme park in the world in 2022 with 16.8 million people coming through the gates, according to a report by the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM.
Disney’s parks are a tourism magnet for Southern California and especially for Anaheim, which is Orange County’s most populous city and home to more than 345,000 people as well as a major league baseball team and national hockey league team. Hotel revenue typically makes up about half of Anaheim’s revenue, and is expected to climb to $236 million this year, according to city estimates.
“Visitors generate a tremendous amount of revenue for our city that allows us to invest in our neighborhoods,” said Erin Ryan, a spokesperson for the city of Anaheim. “Disney brings a lot of tourists here.”
The plan also would require the company to invest tens of millions of dollars in street improvements, affordable housing and other infrastructure in the city. Disney has held workshops to address residents’ questions about the proposal, including concerns about the company’s plan to absorb a local road into the theme park.
Anaheim Hills is located in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, with amazing views of both the city and the mountains. There are countless parks, nature preserves, hiking and walking trails, and golf courses in the neighborhood. You can also find a great selection of cafes, restaurants, and local eateries to grab a bite at.
2. Convention Center
The Convention Center neighborhood is located just south of Disneyland and includes the Anaheim Convention Center, which is home to a variety of events throughout the year. The area has numerous hotels, restaurants, and is often bustling with people.
3. Downtown Anaheim
Downtown Anaheim is located in the heart of the city and includes the Packing District. There are a lot of cool local restaurants, cozy cafes, and unique bars. You can find some beautiful parks including Pearson Park in Downtown Anaheim.
4. Northeast Anaheim
The Northeast Anaheim neighborhood is located east of Anaheim Hills. Both the 91 and 57 freeways run through this area, making transportation easy. There’s plenty to do in Northwest Anaheim, whether you visit The Adventure Lagoon, grab lunch at a local eatery, or spend the afternoon at one of the many parks.
Welcome to Anaheim, CA, a dynamic city known for its entertainment, vibrant community, and diverse attractions. From world-famous theme parks to lively neighborhoods, Anaheim offers residents a unique blend of opportunities and experiences. Whether you’re in search of a new home or eager to explore what Anaheim is known for, this Redfin article is your guide to uncovering the distinctive qualities that make Anaheim, CA, a standout destination.
1. Disneyland Resort
This iconic theme park is a major tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors each year. With its thrilling rides, enchanting characters, and magical atmosphere, Disneyland Resort offers a unique and unforgettable experience for people of all ages.
2. Convention center hub
The city’s expansive convention center hosts a wide range of events, including trade shows, conferences, and expos. With its state-of-the-art facilities and convenient location, Anaheim attracts businesses and professionals from various industries.
3. Angel Stadium
Angel Stadium is another notable feature of Anaheim. As the home of the Los Angeles Angels, this baseball stadium is a beloved destination for sports enthusiasts. Fans gather here to cheer on their favorite team and enjoy the excitement of America’s pastime.
4. Historic Colony District
This charming Anaheim neighborhood showcases the city’s rich history and architectural heritage. Visitors can explore the area’s historic buildings, quaint shops, and vibrant cultural scene, immersing themselves in the past while enjoying modern amenities.
5. Ethnic diversity
The city is home to a vibrant mix of cultures, creating a rich tapestry of traditions, cuisines, and celebrations. Residents and visitors alike can experience a wide range of cultural events, festivals, and culinary delights that reflect Anaheim’s multicultural identity.
6. Craft breweries
Beer enthusiasts can explore a variety of local breweries, each offering unique flavors and styles. From hoppy IPAs to rich stouts, Anaheim’s craft breweries provide a taste of the city’s creativity and passion for brewing.
7. Technological innovation
The city is home to numerous tech companies and startups, driving advancements in various industries. From cutting-edge research to innovative products and services, Anaheim’s tech scene contributes to the city’s reputation as a hub of innovation.
8. Educational institutions
Anaheim is home to several esteemed schools, colleges, and universities, providing quality education and fostering intellectual growth. Students from around the world come to Anaheim to pursue their academic goals and contribute to the city’s intellectual vibrancy.
9. Strategic location in Orange County
With its central position within the county Anaheim provides easy access to nearby cities, beaches, and attractions. Whether it’s exploring the coastal beauty, enjoying outdoor adventures, or experiencing the vibrant culture of Southern California, Anaheim’s location offers endless opportunities for exploration and adventure.
When Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani joined the Angels in 2018, my cousins and I made a bet. How long until he leaves Orange County to join the Los Angeles Dodgers?
We knew it wasn’t a matter of if, but when.
Not just because the Blue Crew is one of baseball’s marquee franchises, while the Halos are as respected as a soul patch. Or because Angels owner Arte Moreno makes Ebeneezer Scrooge seem as free-spending as, well, the Dodgers, who just signed Ohtani to the richest contract ever in professional sports, at $700 million for 10 years.
Nah, we knew Ohtani was fated to leave because he’s a young, talented person — and folks like him usually get the hell out of O.C. the moment they can.
We saw the best minds of my generation flee for Austin, Texas, Chicago, New York, the Inland Empire, but especially L.A. — the place our elders taught us to fear as full of crime and liberals. Our friends and relatives left to find opportunities that were impossible in staid, conservative, expensive Orange County. They rarely looked back. When their new neighbors asked where they were from, most would demur and say “Southern California” or “near Los Angeles.”
City, civic and county leaders didn’t care about this exodus, since O.C. was never meant to be cool. We were the spot where people moved after they made it. Orange County was aspirational, and if you couldn’t afford to hack it here, good riddance and don’t forget to take along other underachievers like you.
This thinking went on, unchecked, for decades. But it’s finally dawning on the lords of O.C. that losing our young to Los Angeles and elsewhere portends doom.
Fans line up to enter Angel Stadium in 2021.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Orange County has shrunk in population three out of the last four years — a once-unthinkable development in a region that has always bragged about its growth. O.C’s median age has gone from 33.3 years in the 2000 census to 39.5 years in 2022, a rate of aging that has outpaced the nation. About 17,000 people between the ages of 20 and 35 left in 2016 and 2017 alone, according to the Orange County Business Council’s most recent Workforce Housing Scorecard, which called the youthful exodus a “troubling trend” and a “drain on the county’s future workforce.”
Like Orange County, the Angels have historically preferred established and over-the-hill players and barely blinked when homegrown prospects left for better opportunities. The team rarely invests in its farm system, the way Orange County cities have never really cared about creating affordable housing, good-paying jobs or other necessities that would help to keep young people here. Ohtani, like so many of the smart people who have left O.C. in my lifetime, finally got fed up with his situation — and could you blame him?
This is an apples-to-oranges comparison, of course — or rather, Dodgers-to-Angels. The 29-year-old Ohtani, unlike most millennials, is a once-in-an-epoch phenom with enough money to buy a series of homes from Angel Stadium to Dodger Stadium. But his departure means the Angels are now staring at years of irrelevancy if Moreno continues his youth-averse ways.
That’s where Orange County finds itself today.
It’s sad to say this about a place where I was born and raised and plan to live my entire life, because heaven knows, people outside of the power structure have tried to stop this brain drain. From the late 1990s through the 2010s, I followed and eventually wrote about those who were trying to make O.C. a cool place, one we could proudly proclaim to be as hip as L.A. Homegrown stars shined in clubs, restaurants, galleries, fashion and other culture scenes. Cities like Costa Mesa, Anaheim and Santa Ana became creative hubs that — gasp — even Angelenos would visit.
No one exemplified this creativity more than Gwen Stefani, Orange County’s most famous musician and someone whom the Board of Supervisors included this month as an inaugural member of the Orange County Hall of Fame. She and her band, No Doubt, became global stars with their breakout album “Tragic Kingdom,” a title that was a play on Disneyland’s nickname and meant to reflect how people of Stefani’s generation hated boring, old Orange County and were committed to do something about it.
When I joined The Times five years ago this month, I had spent my career almost exclusively covering Orange County. I wanted to show the rest of the world that my homeland was worthy of respect and to highlight those battling against the forces that kept driving out too many talented people.
I planned to continue focusing on O.C. in my new job. Once I began to cover Los Angeles, that changed. I quickly discovered an excitement and energy to L.A. that doesn’t exist in Orange County and can’t be replicated elsewhere, that intoxicates you and makes you wonder what took you so long to get it.
Ohtani will soon experience that for himself. That’s why I don’t blame him for leaving the Halos, as cool as it would have been to see him in Orange County for the rest of his career. He and too many others before him saw no future down here, especially once they realized there are far more welcoming places out there.
To paraphrase a famous World War I song, how ya gonna keep us down in Anaheim after we’ve seen the City of Angels?
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Monday at 8:09 p.m. in Fullerton, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred less than a mile from Anaheim, one mile from Placentia, two miles from Brea and two miles from La Habra.
In the last 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in the Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.6 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Are you ready for when the Big One hits? Get ready for the next big earthquake by signing up for our Unshaken newsletter, which breaks down emergency preparedness into bite-sized steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake kits, which apps you need, Lucy Jones’ most important advice and more at latimes.com/Unshaken.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.
The California Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal from Disney as to whether an Anaheim wage law applies to its lowest-paid theme park workers —setting the stage for the Disneyland resort to boost wages for many of its workers.
Over the summer, the state’s 4th District Court of Appeal ordered up raises and back pay for “cast members,” as Disney calls its employees, in a class-action lawsuit filed on their behalf. The state Supreme Court’s decision to allow the appeal court’s order to stand represents a serious legal blow to the media giant.
“Disney’s at the end of the road in terms of appeals,” said Sarah Grossman-Swenson, an attorney representing Disney workers. “The appellate decision is clear that Disney is required to comply with the law. The only issue left is the amount of damages.”
The dispute between Disneyland workers and the park began in 2018 when voters passed a law prescribing a $15 minimum wage for companies in Anaheim’s resort area who enjoyed “tax rebate” agreements with the city. The measure approved by voters, known as Measure L, had been placed on the ballot thanks to petition drive, led by a coalition of Disney unions.
In the lead up to the election, Disney asked the Anaheim City Council to shred a 45-year gate tax shield and a $267-million bed-tax break for a luxury hotel project that has since been abandoned.
With those agreements canceled, Anaheim’s city attorney opined that the law wouldn’t apply to Disney.
But a class-action lawsuit representing 25,000 theme park workers filed against Disney in Dec. 2019 begged to differ.
An Orange County Superior Court judge originally sided with Disney before a three-judge panel overturned the ruling this summer, citing a provision in a 1996 Disney expansion deal passed by Anaheim in which the city agreed to repay the company if it had to cover bond payments.
Disney filed an appeal with the state’s Supreme Court in August in which it claimed the appellate court redefined what a tax rebate is in a move that would “chill” public-private partnerships such as the ’96 expansion deal that brought Disney’s California Adventure, the Downtown Disney District and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel into existence, going forward.
It appears the legal fight ends with this week’s decision.
“We are aware of the court’s decision and will be complying with the requirements of Measure L,” said Jessica Good, a Disneyland Resort spokesperson.
Anaheim spokesman Mike Lyster said the city “will continue to monitor how the court’s ruling is implemented.”
How many workers will be affected by the law’s implementation and the sum of back pay owed are unknown at this time.
The pay scale under the law is set to rise to slightly less than $20 an hour next year after being adjusted for inflation.
Grossman-Swenson called the raises and back pay owed a “big deal” for Disney workers.
“We know that thousands of them were not paid a living wage for almost five years in compliance with the law,” she added. “This will mean that they are entitled to their money and that can make a big difference in their lives.”
